Shootings send 2 men to hospital

Sunday

May 4, 2014 at 6:45 PMMay 4, 2014 at 8:19 PM

Wilmington police are investigating two separate shootings that sent two victims to New Hanover Regional

Wilmington police are investigating two separate shootings that sent two victims to New Hanover Regional Medical Center Sunday evening.Officers were first dispatched to the 500 block of Maides Avenue around 5 p.m. after receiving calls for shots fired in the area.Wilmington Police Department Sgt. C. Stansbury said one unidentified male was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle after he was shot in the throat and chest.When officers arrived, Stansbury said, a car left the neighborhood at a high rate of speed. Officers followed the vehicle to the hospital after determining the victim was inside the vehicle.The driver did not stop when the man was dropped at the hospital, Stansbury said.The victim is in stable condition, said Stansbury.Officers are investigating the shooting and are following leads, he said. No arrests have been made in the incident. Police did not have a description of the vehicle used to transport the victim.Castle Street shootingAbout two hours later, Wilmington police and New Hanover County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the 1000 block of Castle Street, the scene of a second shooting.One person was injured in that shooting near 10th and Castle streets shortly before 7 p.m., Wilmington police say.Investigating officers chased a suspect's vehicle across the county line and stopped the vehicle in Navassa in Brunswick County, police said.One person was taken into custody following that chase. The condition of the shooting victim is unknown but the victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital once officers arrived at the shooting location, officers said.Police have not said whether they believe the shootings are related.Aisha Irving, who lives four blocks away from where the Castle Street shooting took place, said violence in the city needs to stop."We should stop the violence and unify a little bit closer to each other," Irving said.Irving speculated that the shooter in the Castle Street incident was not local to the neighborhood because everyone the community is close knit.In addition to keeping Wilmington residents safe, Irving said the community's reputation will suffer if the violence does not stop."We want the tourists to not be afraid of enjoying the city," she said.Irving recommended Port City visitors stick to the safer sections of the region, such as downtown and the beach communities, to ensure they're safe.